1st gen power

Has anyone who thinks throwing an ls in is cheaper actually done it? I've only seen one documented ls swap into a Tacoma and it was a ridiculous amount of custom work and money. I installed a turbo system on my truck for under $3,000 and it is good to 350 whp. The lowest number I've seen for an ls swap was $6,000 and that was just a general estimate. Would honestly like to see some actual numbers on an ls swap because I'm also considering it.

As for a 4.7 swap, why? 320 hp and 340 tq? And those are at the crank.

 

I didn't mean to make the 4.7 swap sound like the best swap. I just meant that it was an option, and I think it would be a cool swap. I'll never swap a V8 into my tacoma, but if I did, I'd be more likely to swap in a 4.7 than any LS motor. Don't get me wrong, LS motors are great, but it seems like everyone swaps LS motors into everything. It would be cool to have a LS in a Taco though, don't get me wrong. The 4.7 would just be different. But no motor swap is going to be "easy", even swapping a 5.3 into a chevy that had a 4.8 had its rough patches.

 

early 2000s chevs with the lq4 or 4.8 can be found rusted out and or damaged dirt cheap. having a donor vehicle like that makes it easy and cheap. you can come across them for under $2000. the ls is super compact not being a DOHC design. you can buy bolt on motor mounts or even a full install kit from cxracing for $1400.

hardest part of putting one in a taco is getting driveshafts made.

 

Yeah the whole keeping it Toyota thing is definitely a point of interest. From a strictly power stand point it's the only reason I'd consider a 2jz over an LS. 2jz Tacoma is just sexy. Ls Tacoma is redneck as hell, not in a bad way mind you just a different set up.

 

So Clay_916 you got 350 whp? Has your truck been pretty reliable since you installed the turbo? The reason i want to do turbo is because im doing a complete custom interior in my truck and the turbo would look awesome with the interior. Did you install the turbo or pay someone to do it. I seen i could get the kit for 1400 online. But is there more parts required?

 

I'm sitting at a little over 300 whp now. I say 350 as what I assume is the limit of the motor on stock internals. Reliability has been just fine although there is a little more TLC involved with a turbo, have to stay on top of oil changes, pay more care when starting/warming up and cooling/shutting down and things like that but I have always been keen to those aspects even with a stock setup.

I did all the work myself. I used the cx kit you mention for $1,500. Other parts include AEM Fic 6, 650cc injectors and a 340 lph pump, another $800 with Chinese injectors (no issues yet at 5,000 miles). I just assumed another $700 or so on miscellaneous stuff, gaskets, fluids (nearly $200 in fluids being drained and replaced!), and all the energy drinks I had to help push the project along. It took approximately 60 hours total and I spent a really long time getting the old manifolds off and the new ones on.

It gets throw around a lot with turbo builds that you should use quality turbos and waste gates. I agree with that as you start to approach the upper limits of the motor. For under 10 psi I would say the kit is reliable. I would also say for under 8 psi you could get by with only larger injectors, and stock pump and ecu.

 

Yeah im reelly good about getting my oil changed and keeping everything up to service. I like keeping it in tip top shaoe and i do all the work my self. Also you said replacing all the fluids is that done to keep it from being a mess? Can you send a picture of it after installation?

 

You have to empty the oil pan and the front diff. I went ahead and did my rear diff and coolant as well. I guess it's not really necessary to do them all, I just remember being shocked at how much I spent on just fluids after it was done. Them shits add up fast. I didn't take pictures. I have one of it all done but it's a night shot and fuzzy as hell. It looks exactly like what's on cx racings site and they actually have pretty informative pictures.

 

Okay thanks a lot. Ueah i know about how much the fluids cost. I got my truck 2 years ago for a christmas and birthday gift from a family friend. I knew the truck was driven hard so i replaced all fluids and it was pretty expensive. I thought this was cool though that the truck had sat in a growed up field for more then 2 years never even started when it sat. But the friend that vave it to me hauled it to there house so we could look at it. And my mom wanted to see if it would atleast crank. The battery was dead so we stuck a tiny fourwheeler battery on it and its started right up like it never sat. The thing was even full of mouse nest. That tells you how good toyota engines are.

 

So I want to end up putying a front heavy duty bumper on it. Is the intercooler in the way for the mounts for that? This is the one question thst has always given me trouble to think about

 

With the 95-97s stubby front end there really isnt any room for an intercooler as is. think a small one behind the grill would work fine though.

 

Yeah cxracing intercooler goes right behind the stock grille

 

From other turbo builds it seems the intercooler the kit comes with is excessively big.


Being a new member im not sure if you know but there is a build section for 1st gens. youl find quite a few turbo builds there.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/1st-gen-builds-1995-2004.102/

 

Yes i have seen the other builds. The turbo im looking at the intercooler goes right behind the stock grille but hangs down. The only thing thats bothering me is that the hanging down part. Thats what i think will mess uo the bumper

 

As far as a cold air intake, our trucks already have them stock...it already pulls air from outside the engine bay. So making one yourself really isnt going to do anything other than give you something to do.

 

If you want reliability go with the TRD supercharger and 3.4 motor. It's durinabity is proven just like the 3.4 motor.
The 3.4 motors if taken care of will last 500,000 miles before a head gasket goes out, which will happen sooner or later.
I have probably more miles then anyone on this site on my supercharger that is at 515,000 miles and rebuilt 3 times since new in 1997. Never had any issues or problems Just rebuilt evey 150,000 miles to be safe for 1000.00 or so.
Running cold air intake, 2.1 pulley, larger injector, cat back exhaust that probably equals about 300 hp. With this setup you will have more power over all the 2nd and 3rd gen tacoma trucks and have a much better power to weight ratio.
If you want more hp and maybe less for reliability install a chev V-8.
Truck has the ORIGINAL transmission, front diff, rear diff, and transfer case and ujoints at 515,000 miles all supercharged. What more can you ask for?
If you four wheel remember with the supercharger the power is there instantly all the time unlike the turbo.

 

I have the 3.4l. And also i dont want a chevy engine. My first car was a chevy camaro. It was a piece of crap comlared to my taco. Also you have a pretty sweet tacoma. So why wouldnt the turbo always be there?

 

With the miles I drive I need 100 percent reliability and the setup I have works perfect

 

Well thanks for the feed bsck

 

Ive had two turbo cars before, Audi turbo and Porsche turbo, the way a turbo works is the power is created by the exhaust, so more exhaust creates more power and that power curve comes on when the engine rpms
are high, there is very little to no turbo power when the rpms are low unlike the supercharger the power is instant all the time. Remember turbo power is on a gradual scale, not instantaneous with full power. Turbos NEED a lot more maintenance because of all the heat they create, supercharger has almost zero maintenance.
So if you are 4 wheeling (crawler) a supercharger would be a better option. A turbo is more efficient but
creates a lot of heat that causes other issues.